Our Fujifilm F200EXR test sample is silver-colored and blends in with the crowd. Fujifilm has taken a more conservative approach when it comes to design, and gave the camera a rather standard appearance. In fact, not very striking at all, but that certainly doesn’t downgrade the camera in any way. I just feel that Fujifilm could have made more of an effort when it comes to the design, with a splash of color here and there, or a stripe or edge on the front or back. After all, everybody wants a little eye-candy every now and then! On the other hand, many photographers will find appearance the least important factor, and will simply look for a camera which does what the marketing machine promises.

Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR camera housing
The material used for the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR feels smooth. Personally, I even find it somewhat too smooth, and the camera came close to slipping out of my hands on more than one occasion. You can imagine I did not want to make the awkward moves that come with the action of trying to hold on to the camera while standing on an edge in the middle of Death Valley, trying to capture the beautiful landscape. So instead, I chose to use the wrist band.

Fujifilm F200EXR features a 5x zoom lens
The front of the Fujifilm F200EXR is mainly dominated by the lens construction. A large ring encircling the 5x optical zoom lens gives it a rather pompous appearance. However, once the camera is activated, it doesn't look too bad. The small lens has a compact diameter and extends a few cm when zooming in. Next to the zoom lens, a LED functions as AF assist light and, at the same time it serves as self-timer indicator. The small built-in flash is located right underneath the shutter release button. I have one comment about this spot. The flat front of the camera has no handgrip or edge to put your fingers on, which makes you place them 'anywhere', also close to the flash. This may cause your finger to cover part of the flash at times.

Battery & memory card compartment
The top of the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is simple; a ring for zooming encircles the shutter release button and next to it, the on/off switch is placed. A neatly covered compartment is found on the side of the camera containing several interfaces: HD out, USB and A/V.

The bottom has a compartment for the Li-Ion battery and the memory card. Although Fujifilm provides a dual card slot, supporting xD and SD/SDHC, we can definitely conclude that the xD Picture Card has had its best time. Or at least, that is what it looks like. Next to the compartment, almost in the centre of the camera, a plastic tripod connector provides the possibility to shoot while using a tripod.

3" LCD monitor of the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR
A large-sized 3 inch monitor covers almost all of the back of the F200EXR. And even though this format is used more and more often, it remains a valuable addition. It's hard to imagine now that the first generations of digital cameras using a 1.5 inch monitor for reproduction. The amount of buttons next to the monitor is kept limited, providing a well-structured overview. Unlike other cameras, the command dial of the camera is not found on top of the F200EXR, but on its back. It offers access to the main program settings such as the EXR technology. A multi-controller encircled by four buttons completes it.

Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR housing
The Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR feels solid and also features a high quality finish. I have only two comments; one is the relatively smooth housing and the other is the lack of a handgrip. The curved edges give the Fujifilm F200EXR a nice appearance, although the camera does not particularly stand out from the many other models when it comes to its design. For some, this may be of minor importance, but for other this may be crucial when considering purchasing the F200EXR.